wyers Arnold Tsunga, Wilbert Mandinde, Joseph James, Tinoziva Bere, Gabriel Shumba; Crisis Coalition deputy boss Tabitha Khumalo and youth activists Collen Chibango, Promise Mkwananzi and Xolani Zitha (not Nsiza, Zvayi) were part of an MDC delegation that flew to Accra, Ghana, two weeks ago to lobby African heads of State to “condemn the government of Zimbabwe for alleged human rights abuse.”
Not only was this report a complete fabrication and a figment of the author’s imagination, it carried shocking distortions that were deliberately aimed at misleading the nation about the object of our visit.
What was most baffling was the fact that Zvayi was nowhere near Ghana at the time of the public hearing on Zimbabwe , so I wonder how he could have reported about events happening more than 7,000 kilometres from Harare ! Of course, I am aware of his informants, two intelligence operatives who infiltrated the public hearing on Zimbabwe .
For the record, I was not part of any MDC delegation but was in Accra as a media representative from Zimbabwe .
Infact, I went to Accra specifically for a workshop on “Freedom of Expression in Africa” jointly organized by the Media Foundation of West Africa and the Media Institute of Southern Africa. This workshop was held on June 25 and 26, at least a week before the African Union heads of State and government summit opened on Sunday July 1.
Zvayi states that I was part of an MDC delegation that wanted to lobby the AU General Assembly “to pressure them to condemn Zimbabwe for human rights abuses.”
This is a complete lie. I cannot comprehend how this was going to be possible considering that by the time the AU summit opened on Sunday, I was already in Harare ! Zvayi might be interested to know that I flew from Kotoka International Airport in Accra aboard a South African Airways 11pm flight on Saturday June 30.
In his narration, Zvayi shamelessly lies about a public hearing on Zimbabwe held on June 28 at the Teachers Hall in Accra .
His opening statement, an alleged heated exchange between a Ghanaian University student and the MDC’s deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma never took place. Mangoma was never given the floor to address the public hearing. So the report was pure fiction, period!
The public hearing on Zimbabwe was not an MDC event as reported by the Herald. It was organized by the Civil Society Forum, a coalition comprising leading human rights defenders, civic and youth activists, media practitioners and lawyers.
By the way Mr Zvayi, lawyer Tinoziva Bere is not with Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni law firm as you erroneously reported. Bere is actually a practicing lawyer with Bere Brothers law firm in Mutare. Please check your facts, please, please. This is a cardinal rule in journalism. Triple check everything!
There was not one MDC official who was part of this public hearing although MDC vice president Thoko Kuphe and Mangoma attended, merely as spectators.
Contrary to the report by Zvayi, Mufakose MDC MP Paurina Mpariwa was not in Accra for the public hearing. She was actually having afternoon coffee in her Harare home at that time.
Despite spirited efforts by Zvayi and his handlers to rubbish the public hearing, it was a resounding success as scores of Ghanaians expressed their solidarity with the suffering people of Zimbabwe . Obviously this did not go down well with the powers-that-be, hence the lies.
Yes, there were one or two students from the Ghana University – where we understand Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa had done a lot of “advocacy” prior to the public hearing – who raised questions about the funding of civil society in Zimbabwe and its position with regards to the land reform.
The questions were professionally and convincingly disposed of. It is therefore completely false to suggest that “the MDC underlings were in for a rude shock” and that the questions “left the MDC activists flustering and stuttering.” Infact, Mr Zvayi, this is the essence of democracy, accommodating differing view points.
For the record, more than three quarters of Ghanaians at the public hearing urged Zimbabweans to remain resolute recalling with nostalgia the hardships they went through under the dictatorship of Jerry Rawlings.
“We are sympathetic to your cause. Every government which oppresses its people has no right to be in power,” said Ghanaian Abgu Yonke.
The public hearing was held on the understanding that the Zimbabwe crisis could only be resolved on the basis of African rights campaigners reframing the debate as a struggle for democracy, human rights and social justice.
So, it was imperative that the debate had to be won within Zimbabwe , within SADC and across Africa .
There was absolutely nothing sinister about this public hearing which preceded another one on the Darfur crisis in Sudan . It had nothing to do with “regime change.” It was a hearing where civil society and the media were invited to witness first hand the presentation of evidence of the reality of what is happening within Zimbabwe .
No-one “literally shed tears in an attempt to move the crowd,” as Zvayi falsely reported. But for once, Zimbabweans were free to express themselves – ironically in a foreign country – something that can get you a serious bashing back here at home, or worse still death. I feel your article was aimed at putting me and my colleagues in harm’s way by telling such a dangerous lie.
I challenge you to retract your false report and accompany that retraction with a sincere expression of apology. I urge the Voluntary Media Council we have recently set up in Zimbabwe to act on this appalling breach of ethics.